"TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader."
During the years I have spent designing, I've come to find that the best form of inspiration comes as a result of conversations I've held with talented designers, intellects, and esoteric thinkers. While it's important to understand the use of design galleries boasting sales-pitch-titles like "30 ways to improve your ____", the real content lies in the dialog held with minds who have spent their lives dedicated to the academic approach of their subject; which brings me to TED.
Over the last 6 months I've been spending approximately 18 minutes a night indulging myself in some of the most intellectually stimulating content at TED.com. There is a perfect blend of conversations ranging from graphic design to neuroanatomy.
Spend a few hours and get learned. A few of my personal favorites:
Jill Bolte Taylor My stroke of insight
Stefan Sagmeister Yes, design can make you happy
The Jill Bolte Taylor clip was one of the more fascinating personal explorations into the inner workings of one's own mind I've ever listened to. To be so coherent during such a horrific moment in one's life is truly unbelievable. I agree entirely that these are the types of things that we, the people who make reality from dreams and ideas, need draw our inspiration from.